Day Trips from Bangkok

If you have an extra day at your disposal or wish to see the Bangkok beyond the shopping districts, there are some places around which could take up a day and give you some fresh, new experiences. Here are some of our favorite day trip recommendations for a day out from Bangkok:

1. Pattaya

Although some consider Pattaya to be a destination in itself, the place is becoming less and less family-friendly every day and most families can do well by just devoting a day to it. As a day trip, Pattaya is very popular with Bangkok visitors. Pattaya is located 147 kilometers (91 miles) southeast of Bangkok. It takes less than 2 hours to drive to Pattaya from Bangkok and a taxi will cost 2200 baht approx (to and fro) and a bus, 100 baht per person one way (2009 prices).

In Pattaya - Walking Street is the main tourist area, both for nightlife and shopping. You can visit Mini Siam to see small replicas of famous places like various temples in Thailand, Statue of Liberty, Eiffel tower, etc. Visit http://www.minisiam.net/ for more information. You can also take the 15 minute glass bottom boat ride to Koh Larn (Coral Island) and see the beautiful coral from the glass bottom of the boat. Half a day can be spent in Nong Nooch village which is a replica of a traditional Thai village with a Thai cultural show, an elephant show and a pottery garden. Another attraction is the bottle museum on 79/15 Moo 9, Sukhumvit Road, Nongpler which displays over 300 miniatures created in bottles.

2. Bridge on the River Kwai and Floating Market

Yes, you can visit the real Bridge on the River Kwai of the famed Hollywood movie of the same name starring Alec Guiness. And the most famous floating market in enroute! This lovely day trip is better done through an organized tour service. You will see salt fields and rice paddies in the long tailed boats while visiting the floating market consisting of Thai people selling fruits, vegetables and flowers in Thai canoes.

You can then head to the infamous bridge. The building of the bridge in 1943 was part of a wartime project to link existing Thai and Burmese railway lines to create a direct route from Bangkok, Thailand to Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar) in an effort to support the Japanese occupation of Burma. Over 100,000 conscripted laborers and 12,000 prisoners of war died during the whole project. At the Bridge, you can also enjoy a Train ride on the Death Railway through magnificent scenery, passing over the original wooden viaduct constructed by Allied POWs.